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AstraZeneca Spinout Entasis Snags $50M For Anti-Infective Treatments

Entasis Therapeutics, the AstraZeneca spinout developing novel antibiotics, has raised a $50 million Series B round to push forward the creation of a portfolio of treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections.

AstraZeneca announced it was creating Entasis in July, having funded the company with a $40 million Series A. This newest round was led by Clarus Ventures, which was joined by Frazier Healthcare Partners, Novo A/S, and Eventide Funds.

The money will help add to the Waltham, MA-based company’s pipeline and advance its preclinical products. In July, Entasis said its lead drug candidate would treat uncomplicated gonorrhea.

The company is making antibiotics for major Gram-negative infections, which target essential bacterial processes, Entasis says. Entasis is led by CEO Manos Perros, a longtime AstraZeneca executive, and chief medical officer Robin Isaacs, who joined from Merck.

Nicholas Galakatos, the co-founder and managing director of Clarus, is joining Entasis’s board as chairman. James Topper, managing general partner of Frazier Healthcare Partners, and Peter Tuxen Bisgaard, senior partner of Novo Ventures (US), are also joining the board.

David Holley is Xconomy's national correspondent based in Austin, TX. You can reach him at dholley@xconomy.com Follow @xconholley